The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-04

sgtnt had discovered the sunny side of
EngrossiDg Clerk McMurray and set up
headquarters in his office. McMurray
himself remained without, and asked each
new Senator that passed near to step in
and see the patent ballot-box. Occasion
ally the agent sailed forth and relieved the
tadium of debate for some Senator by
pouring into his ears a mellIfluous story of
the JOY that entered every household with
one copy of the dictionary of quotations.
Hours passed on, and when the Senate adj
journed for the day the visitation was not
yet over. Several Senators had escaped
the addition of the dictionary to their IL
braries, but the wear and tear was telling
on them. The next day the siege con-
tinued all the morning, one citadel after
another yielding until when at noon the
Senators adjourned for the week and fed
for home. the agent, approaching with one
hand on her heart and the other on dc
tlonary OF quotations, sTeetly whispered
10 a busy clerk:
Can 1 talk to you two minutes. Mr..
-? I've seen them all but four, besides
you, and don't want to miss any"
The clerk lodged two eloquent brown
eyes, and was very busy" and didn't
know when he would be at leisure.
Jpn help you fold those papers if you
will let me talk to you. like to let every
one see what an elegant thing my book is.
1t contains quotations FROM all the great
authors. You can find anything in it at
moments notice. President Fish told me
to tell all the Senators that he wouldn't be
without it for -"
"-Mayn't talk to you few minutes
when l come back next week." a silvery
voice said protestingly, as the Every busy"
clerk hustled himself into an overcoat and
fed.
Next week Great Scott" came from
group of Senators who overheard the re-
mark, and great silence fell upon all
around.
Next week" which is this week, like
wise fell from the agent as softly as the
silence upon all the Senators. Time had
not furnished nor age dulled the infinite
exhaustlessness of her blarney. Her wraps
Uttered the chairs in the clerks rooms, and
her tailor-made figure fitted in and out the
dusky chamber as ray of sunlight through
awindow-shutter cnases the man who wants
to sleep. The sensational crop was about
gathered early in the week so far as the die
tionary of quotations was concerned, but
there are books and books, and the agent
had all of them apparently. Clerks who
were sure that they had the dictionary OF
quotations at home, dared not remember
to have read somebody's latest just out
this week. Senators with wives in
the galleries squlrmed helplessly
as a dreamy-eyed vision sat beside
them and poured airy nothings about
plates, pages, print and prices confiden-
tally into their ear. Assemblymen stray
ing into the Senate chamber in search of
their little bills were caught on the fly and
successfully searched by the female to the
extent of a So bill. Affronts, snubs, sneers
and noes fell harmless upon the innocent
glamor in which her dove-like chances en-
shrouded her. Despair never drove the
ruddy velvet from her cheeks, and disap-
pointment never modulated the soft cooling
OF her voice. The rush and hustle of the
closing hours of the session never diverted
her mind from consideration of the abso-
lutte necessity of dictionary of quotations
in every well regulated family.
And when finally the Presidents gsvel
had fallen for the last time, she swept
around and bid each Senator sweet fare
well.
"Good.by," she said, as they were de-
parting ''I've had a real nice time, and
I've sold lots of books. 1 hope I'll see you
again next winter; Pm awfully sorry
you're going; really, 1 am; good-by," and
as the last retreating Senator gazed back
ward, he saw her, monarch of all she sur
veyed, still standing by the Presidents
desk, with a dictionary of quotations in
one hand and tear-dampened handker-
chief in the other.